The Organic Beehive

Nice snowplow

2012-02-01T13:13:00.000-08:00

Gracie learning to ski at Solitude ski resort.

Steal of a deal

2012-01-31T07:26:00.000-08:00

The holidays left me with several gift cards to Lowes, which meant a shopping trip was in order. I had been keeping a list of various things I needed from the hardware store and finally got a chance to make the trip alone. I had my list of items to acquire but also wanted to wander around and see if there was anything else I couldnt live without. Browsing the housewares sections, I came upon this.

I could hardly contain my excitement when I saw these on the shelf. Exactly what I needed, considering I ran out of small jam jars during jam making season last fall. And what a deal, less than .25 cents per jar. This may be a sign that I am getting old and boring but it sure made my night. I bought the last 3 cases they had along with pectin and more lids which were just as cheap.

Warm and Sunny

2012-01-24T07:41:00.000-08:00

Hiking in Phoenix a few weeks ago.

It's a show

2012-01-18T10:03:00.001-08:00

On to the next one

2012-01-09T11:35:00.000-08:00

2011 went by fast.
I commuted to work via bike 129 days in 2011.
Not bad considering weekends, hoidays, time off and travel.

2011 left me with good memories of riding in hot, cold, wind, rain and ice. Almost got blown off my bike in the nastiest wind ever during the fall SLC windstorm. Also went down at the busiest intersection of my commute due to ice. Lucky for me, no injuries resulted from the tree toppling storm or 1 mph fall.

Now I've got a goal for 2012.

A year in review

2011-12-05T10:57:00.000-08:00

For quite some time, I've been meaning to post pictures and comment on how fast Isabel's first year went by . Finally, pictures from a year of growth.

November 22, 2010

December

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November 22,2011

Pushing hard

2011-11-18T07:09:00.000-08:00

I was able to bike commute every workday for the previous two weeks, resulting in significant improvement in my ride time. Thanks to a constant push from the south wind I posted my best time yet this morning.

15:45

Thats a pretty impressive gain over my previous best set a month ago. Also happy that I can roll out of bed a little after 7, bike commute and still arrive at my desk by 8.

You're Big

2011-11-14T10:41:00.000-08:00

Mat (from Boise), Sean and I attended the Utah Grizzlies hockey game Saturday night followed by a post game skate session. Sean was able to get autographs from the whole team (including Grizzby the mascot) on his hockey gloves. He loved every minute of it, especially when Grizzby came by our seats and "stole" some popcorn from Sean's bucket.

Worn Out

2011-11-08T12:50:00.000-08:00

Cute Vampire

2011-10-30T19:46:00.000-07:00

October fun

2011-10-25T20:14:00.000-07:00

The Armstrongs have been enjoying the Fall season with lots of good times. We made a trip to Cornbellys to kick off the season.

We had a picnic in the park while the weather was still nice. Sean loves to pose for the camera.

Gracie trying to avoid having her picture taken.

Gracie cooperating

Bel at the park

And of course we carved pumpkins

Seriously Mom?

Ride fast, stay warm

2011-10-12T07:25:00.000-07:00

Fall has officially arrived in SLC with morning temps in the mid 40's. This is the point when fair weather bike commuters return to their cages til spring. I just ride harder to stay warm. Set a new personal best for getting to the office.

17:02

Picture Post 2

2011-09-21T20:24:00.000-07:00

Things are busy around the Armstrong house but I did manage to break out the camera and snap a few pictures.

Harvest Time

2011-09-09T09:35:00.000-07:00

A cold and wet spring this year ruined every SLC gardeners dream of a bountiful harvest; thus the lack of posts showing my garden/veggies. Everything in my garden looked and produced about a month later than in previous years.
I'm usually tired of squash by now but still wishing more would come in right now.

Probably the sturdiest bean trellis I've built yet. The beans have taken to it well.

I've been planting spinach for the last few months and am now enjoying lots of salads.

Gracie showing a days harvest

I couldn't post this many pictures without one of Bel. If only you could hear her little laugh and squeals.

Bike Walking

2011-09-08T11:36:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, I was unable to ride a section of Gooseberry mesa and had to walk. Bike shoes don't offer much traction on steep slickrock. This is what happens when your foot meets a disk brake rotor.

Do chickens like apricots?

2011-08-06T19:58:00.000-07:00

Thanks to an abundance of apricots on our tree this year, I was able to answer the question posed by the neighbors in a letter they delivered last year.

I have been throwing a 5 gallon bucket full of apricots into the run on a daily basis. By the end of the day, the apricots are all eaten. Yes friendly neighbor, chickens do love apricots. Thanks for your concern.

I'm happy

2011-07-15T12:29:00.000-07:00

Granny meeting her Grandbaby

Cute

2011-06-17T20:44:00.000-07:00

Two of the cutest kids I know.

Don't forget Isabel

Picture Post

2011-05-28T07:22:00.000-07:00

Searching

2011-05-23T20:34:00.000-07:00

A few trips to the grocery, gingerly packing the kids along with bread and other fragile groceries into the bucket, made me realize how badly I needed a front basket for my Madsen bucket bike. I already had a great bakers style rack on front but something to contain said items was lacking. I searched the Internet many times trying to find a stock basket with proper dimensions for the rack. I even purchased a basket made for a rear rack in hopes I could make it work. Unfortunately, the basket didn't attach well and wasn't exactly the look I wanted. I finally came to the realization that it would have to be custom made. All I needed was a basket weaver to help me out. After many searches on the Internet and an inquiry to a basket weaver in the UK, I stumbled upon Dunbar Gardens in Mount Vernon, Washington.

I was excited to make the discovery given their location. It just so happens that I visit Mt. Vernon once or twice a year for business. Not to mention the fact that they grow, cut and cure their own willow prior to weaving baskets for many uses. During a business trip to the area in February, I made a visit by the Dunbar Garden farm to see their operations and place my basket order. The chance to meet Katherine Lewis, Dunbar basket weaver, was excellent allowing me to pick my basket weave style and color. A few months later, I received the basket and couldn't be happier with my purchase. We have since made countless trips to the grocery, park and various other destinations with the basket providing great storage.

Thanks again to Katherine for such a nicely crafted basket.

Sunday News

2011-05-11T08:05:00.000-07:00

Apparently our Beauty and the Beast costumes for the Tour De Brewtah were good enough to make the Sunday edition of the Salt Lake Tribune. Thanks to the Peterses and McCormack's for joining us. Good times

Photo Credit: Sarah Miller

Sprouts

2011-04-12T19:19:00.000-07:00

Sean has lots of sprouts growing throughout his garden. Might be a few more weeks til we have fresh salads.

Little Gardener

2011-04-06T19:53:00.000-07:00

Sean and I sowed more seeds in his garden area last weekend. He now has his own little area which has lots planted and more to come. I will let him hit the seed stand soon so he can decide what to plant.

Gracie and Mom going for a bucket bike ride.

C'mon Mom

2011-03-24T20:51:00.001-07:00

Get the brownies baked already.

'bout time

2011-03-23T20:16:00.000-07:00

After not doing any backcountry tours last season, I promised myself at least a couple of outings this season. With a new baby in the house, I knew my chances of touring this season were slim to none. My only hope was to force a tour or two by purchasing new equipment. The guilt factor of spending scrilla on gear always gets me out. So I purchased a new pair of AT boots a few weeks back and began looking for a touring partner. Thank god for airline pilots with lots of free time.

We set out for a route previously done but one that provides good vert with minimal effort and a quick exit. The climb up was almost effortless which I'm attributing to my recent interest in yoga and focus on getting my core/upper body in shape. I've always dreaded changes in direction on the skin track but the switch seemed effortless on almost every turn. Weather turned out great, skiing was good for the 1st run with variable conditions on the second. I still don't have the stamina to tour all day but was happy I wasn't sapped after a four hour jaunt.

As for my new boots, they are definitely a step up from my previous. I still wonder if my funky toes will always cause severe pain when wearing ski boots. I'm hoping to get the liners cooked and fitted to reduce pain. I still yearn for a few more tours before the ski season comes to an end. Though I always find myself "over" skiing by March and ready to move on to biking.

In the ground

2011-03-17T07:21:00.000-07:00

Sean and I managed to get spinach, lettuce and carrot seed sowed last weekend. We also planted broccoli starters and crossed our fingers for no green worms this year. Vegetable gardening is one of those things I think all children should learn. Knowing where your food comes from and how to grow it is an invaluable lesson.

Sean was excited to sow seeds in the rows we prepared. After dropping some seeds outside of the prepared rows, he told me sorry for placing seeds in the wrong place. I was quick to correct him and let him know that in gardening as with life, we all make mistakes. And the real beauty of gardening is that it's not an exact science.

Later that day, I went to take pictures of our plantings so I could post them here. Upon returning inside, Sarah pointed out the lack of a memory card in the camera. Ahhh, yes we all make mistakes and the best we can do is learn from them. Sooooo, no pictures to show you but I hope to take some soon (with a memory card in the camera) for the initial planting/harvest time comparisons.

Planting Time

2011-03-11T08:55:00.000-08:00

Spring is teasing us here in SLC with warm weather every few days. I got my planner out from 2010 and realized that I planted broccoli on March 6th last year. I was ready to get broccoli starters last weekend and get them in the ground but its been to wet around here. I'm hoping the sun and wind continue so I can work the soil and get spring veggies in the ground. Along with broccoli, I will sow lettuce, carrot and spinach seed. Here's to hoping I get a chance to get them in the ground this weekend.

Soaking it up

2011-02-17T19:52:00.001-08:00

I broke out the camera yesterday to capture some pictures of Isabel since she is growing so fast.
Bright sun shines on my girls in the living room

Isabel and Mommy being cute

Always watching and learning; Gracie found "her" camera and took pictures. Be sure to check out her blog for pictures of her baby.

Bonus Day

2011-02-03T19:28:00.001-08:00

I expected our chickens' egg production to slow down with winter but they proved me wrong. We've had lots of "bonus days" lately (the Armstrong term for four eggs from our four hens in one day). I've had lots of people ask me about the chickens lately, wondering if I have grown tired of their presence. I actually couldn't be happier with our hen operation. They require very little care and give us delicious eggs in return for our kitchen scraps that would otherwise go to the compost bin. In addition to devouring our scraps they provide excellent fertilizer for the garden.

Bring it!

2011-02-02T07:47:00.000-08:00

As I woke, listening for the howl of the wind, I feared the cold weather awaiting me on the ride to work. I heard the furnace cycling on and off constantly throughout the night; a clear indication of the arctic cold temperatures in SLC. I tried my best to keep a positive attitude but knowing what I was about to face always makes me a little anxious and angry. After all, I would take riding in 60 degree weather over single digits any day of the year. So why would I punish myself and make those around me endure my bad mood? Sometimes I wonder.

I do know that pushing myself to ride in such horrendous conditions makes me stronger, tougher and feel great once arriving at the office. Today allowed me to set a new personal record for winter riding, 9 degrees. I was thankful for the lack of wind though I still felt my lungs bleed as I pushed up the last hill to my office. At least the sun is shining bright for the ride home (me thinking positive).

Lashes

2011-01-23T18:43:00.000-08:00

Not sure where they got their eyelashes but all three have long, distintive lashes.

Winter weather has resulted in lots of trips to the ice skating rink. Sean has become quite a skater and really wants to sign up for hockey. Gracie is skating on her own and improves everytime we go. I discovered that taking a thermos with hot chocolate works really well as a motivator to keep skating (and bribing).

Flashback

2011-01-13T07:16:00.000-08:00

Sometimes during the middle of winter it's good to remember last years harvest to begin preparing for the next planting. And because it helps me forget that its 20 degrees with snow covered ground outside.

I didn't get many pictures of the garden at our new house but it did produce quite well for my first season. With new camera in hand, I hope to document the gardens progress more this year.

Amazing

2011-01-08T20:26:00.000-08:00

What's so amazing you ask?
Take a good look.

It's a picture of Sean without him making a "silly" face.

Yikes

2011-01-06T20:30:00.000-08:00

Isabel looking scared for her life as Gracie and Sean join her on the ottoman.

And you can't take a picture of me either

2010-12-31T15:03:00.000-08:00

Sean showing that he doesn't discriminate when picture blocking!

Smooth

2010-12-26T08:57:00.000-08:00

Sean perfectly executes the face block maneuver.

Face Painting Part II

2010-12-23T15:59:00.000-08:00

Gracie has been doing lots of watercolor painting lately. Apparently the Christmas party gave her some ideas.

Face Painting

2010-12-17T15:04:00.000-08:00

The kids got their faces painted at the Zoo during the christmas party for my office.

Santa Claus

The Cat

Queenie

2010-12-15T12:37:00.000-08:00

Mimi and Papa in the house

2010-12-14T19:29:00.000-08:00

We had another good weekend with Mimi and Papa in town. Thanks for the early Christmas.

One hot Momma

2010-12-11T19:18:00.000-08:00

and one cute baby

Cuddly

2010-12-04T07:55:00.001-08:00

Quite cute how the kids love to cuddle their new little sister. But gotta keep a close eye or things get out of hand quickly.

I proudly present my little sister

2010-12-02T13:29:00.000-08:00

........................................WHATEVER

Thanks Maw Maw & Pop

2010-12-01T19:16:00.001-08:00

Eyes

2010-11-29T19:28:00.000-08:00

We don't get to see her pretty eyes much since she prefers sleeping.

Sean loves his new sister

Sleepy

2010-11-23T18:07:00.000-08:00

Isabel is here

2010-11-22T19:45:00.001-08:00

Isabel Kathryn arrived in the world this morning at 8:05 after a few hiccups (clerical) and is all we could ask for. She is healthy, cute and has been an angel so far.

She was 7lbs 1 ounce, 20.5 inches

Greasy

2010-11-21T18:33:00.000-08:00

Ever had a bad experience with some part of the car industry (sales, service, and insurance)? Most can answer yes. I will apologize right now to those I know that work in some sector of the business as this may offend you. I often wonder if all industries are as slimy as the automobile business; perhaps our experiences are more frequent due to Americans dependence on the car. It seems as if the automobile industry realizes the quandary of our situation and knows we need their services. Whether buying a car or getting it serviced, if not vigilant about getting a "good deal", most will take the opportunity to help themselves to your wallet. Why am I so bitter you ask? 2010 required a car switch-up for the Armstrong family in addition to the usual car maintenance. Let me start with my recent experience.

We purchased a Toyota Sienna all-wheel drive (AWD) minivan earlier this year as a compromise to hauling our brood of children and the ability to transport them in the Utah snow. The AWD isn't nearly as effective without snow tires to give grip so I decided to purchase snow tires. Knowing that tire dealers can be sleazy, I did my homework, calling around to find the best tire price before making the trip to a tire shop. I was turned off by one shop before entering the store since they failed to mention additional shipping charges for tires when agreeing to price match over the phone. Lucky for me, I requested a detailed quote when the tires arrived the following week and found their hidden cost. After this "oversight", I moved on to another dealer.

Dealer #2 had the best price I could find in town without any price match and had the tires in stock. I took the van to them early the next morning and walked in the store to seal the deal. I did mention my call to them the day prior but didn't mention the price quoted. Oddly enough the total price quoted in the store was over $100 what I was told over the phone. The customer that doesn't do their homework knows no better and opens their wallet for the thieves to loot. Interesting that a $50 rebate mentioned the day prior wasn't included with their in-store quote. Once I mentioned my prior call and brought my notebook out with the person I spoke to and the price quoted, I was given the lesser price quoted. Already feeling the filth, I wanted to walk out the door at that moment. However, I knew this was the best deal around town and the forecast of snow that afternoon pushed me to complete the purchase.

And again back to my point of being too dependent on the automobile, thus easily taken by dishonest businesses. I left the van and got a call two hours later from the shop. The alignment was out a few degrees and should be corrected to ensure the longest life. Funny how these things aren't mentioned up front. I understand that alignment may not always be required but how often do they tell someone putting on new tires that they don't require alignment. After some haggling on my part, I got the price down to $50 and agreed to the service. I went to retrieve the van a while later and paid for the service. Upon reviewing the bill, I realized they threw in an additional $50 for a tire protection plan. What the F^%# is that I asked. Oh, that's in the event of catastrophic damage to a tire, they will replace it for no charge. For a tire (run flat) on a minivan that is only rated for 20k miles to begin with? If I'm driving a jeep wrangler off road, this insurance might make sense. But I think I will take my chances that Sarah won't gash the sidewall while driving in the next year and a half.

My experience buying the car wasn't any better, requiring endless haggling and head games to complete the sale. Sarah was ready to divorce me (not really) over the purchase cause I didn't back down with the used car salesmen tactics. Let's just say that we walked out of the dealership once and it still took three hours to finalize the deal upon returning. All this after half-assed repairs were completed, though different things were promised before the paper signing. I've yet to see the second set of keys that allegedly existed for the car before we signed. Keep in mind that a new "smart" key costs at least $100. Need I mention the dead battery experiences one week after receiving the car? Shouldn't "Toyota certified" include a check of the battery and the ability to see that it was near death?

Are all businesses run like this? There are many other industries where prices changes depending on how many questions are asked and the amount of pressure applied. Though if I were a man with no kids or lived in a warmer climate, you better believe I would ditch the automobile and rely on my legs (bicycle). It would be one less thing I have to spend time researching before making a purchase. Tired of my automobile industry rant? Me too.

Just be sure that the next time you plunk down money on this "need", you do your homework before walking in their door. If you don't, go ahead and walk in with your wallet open cause chances are you just put a smile on a salesperson's face and fattened their paycheck.

Madsen Kg271 Bucket Bike Review

2010-11-16T15:22:00.000-08:00

Upon seeing the title of this post, you might begin to wonder how many bikes a man needs in his garage/man-cave. The answer: you can never have enough if ridden regularly.

My Madsen purchase actually occurred earlier this fall but I just got around to reviewing the bike after getting some time in the saddle. I first came across the Madsen this summer and knew I must have one after test riding the 2011 prototype at Madsen headquarters. Following lots of impatient calls and waiting, the 2011 model finally arrived for distribution to waiting customers like me. The Madsen is designed for hauling up to 4 kids at a time or whatever your creative side can dream up. I've yet to fill the bucket with water for a bubble bath, a keg on ice, or other unusual objects but I have managed 4 kids in the bucket.

The Madsen is designed for a family with younger kids that is tired of driving around a minivan with the other soccer moms/dads in the city. It has a bench seat on either side with two seat belts to keep the kids secure (or from beating the crap out of each other). Its a great build with solid components that aren't over the top (internal hub); keeping costs reasonable. Last time I checked the 2011 model was retailing for $1485. The only modifications I've made thus far are comfier lock-on grips, Schwalbe Marathon XC tires and the forte campus pedal to allow SPD use.

I have managed over 100 miles on the bike in two months and have no regrets with my purchase. Most people's first question is "isn't that hard to balance?" The Madsen is amazingly easy to ride with the bucket sitting low to the ground and well placed over the rear wheel. I can feel some wobble when the kids throw punches at one another but otherwise feels like riding a heavy cruiser. It's obvious that weight wasn't much a factor in design and the bike provides a workout when pedaling up the steeper hills in SLC. For those that ride often, its a fun challenge to see what you can conquer with kids loaded in the bucket.

Eight gears allow the rider to take most hills with ease. I eventually plan to swap the front chainring to get the gearing a little higher as I've only really needed the low end a few times. I often find myself "geared out" on anything with a slight downhill grade. Most will find the stock gearing sufficient for their needs. The combination of a front disc and rear v-brake provide enough to stop the bike quickly if needed. A dual leg kickstand keeps the bike stable, even keeping it stable when the kids climb in and out of the bucket. The coolest feature of this bike might just be the integrated front wheel lock. Easy to operate and provides another level of comfort; knowing your bucket isn't being carted off while in the grocery. Though I do carry a cable lock for added security when leaving the bike unattended in public.

The Madsen is not only cool but provides children a totally different experience from riding around in a minivan watching Disney DVD's. It's a great feeling to have the kids observing the elements around them; pointing out birds, squirrels and odd looking people (just kidding). The kids often wave and flash their cute smiles at cars as they go by. I look forward to many years of grocery getting, park hopping and taking the kids to school in what has been dubbed "the bucket".

New Camera

2010-11-14T20:03:00.001-08:00

After years of using a point and shoot camera, taking twenty pictures to get one worthy of posting, I decided it was time for a digital SLR. I've been researching DSLR cameras for a while and decided on the Sony A33 due to its ability to capture 7 frames per second along with HD video. It has more settings and tools than I can figure out at this point but I hope to understand them all with time. I haven't taken too many pictures thus far but managed to capture a few around the house this weekend.

Sean found Sarah's tights and gave them a try.
Good Fit

Big Cheeser

Sarah getting Gracie ready for a night out at the theatre

All Business on the Trail

2010-11-08T09:55:00.000-08:00

Most would presume a guy that only works 30-45 days a year (airline pilot) could conduct business when off the trail. Apparently not.

Rocky Mountain Altitude 50 review continued

2010-11-05T08:13:00.001-07:00

The first week of November brought really warm temperatures allowing further testing of my new bike. Even better is that I got to ride my usual route, dry creek to shoreline to bobsled, allowing easy comparison of my recent purchase to last years Rocky Mountain SXC 50. I'm about to get used to the steering change and it feels good now. Another hurdle I'm working to overcome is the difference in the down-shifting setup between the SRAM and Shimano.

The biggest difference between these bikes aside from weight is the frame geometry and rider position. The Altitude frame puts the rider closer to the front and lower to the ground, allowing more efficient and easier uphill pedaling. I love the feel of climbing with less effort and easier steering. The SXC rider position left me constantly fighting the front wheels desire to wander when riding uphill. On a positive note for the SXC, I felt more confident descending when further back, especially when things get technical.

I've mentioned it before but can't say enough about the weight difference. The Altitude has about 4 pounds less weight and I can feel it, pushing the bike through the flats with ease. I'm also noticing the ability to pull the bike off the ground and over obstacles with less work. The loss of some travel with the Altitude is somewhat noticeable when descending bobsled but still gets the job done. A ride like Porcupine rim in Moab will feel different but still tolerable for the weight loss. All in all, this bike rocks but being faster on the uphill means a longer wait for my friends at the top. Time to find faster friends or start riding with weights.

Crackin' me up

2010-11-02T11:20:00.000-07:00

Sean is such a smart kid, always asking questions and surprising us with his knowledge and personality. He also says and does some pretty funny things I wanted to document. I started this post mid-summer and am finally posting.

Sean and I got out of our car and were walking across a parking lot when a car with windows rolled down drove up within earshot. We needed to cross paths with the car so it was either him stopping or us. Sean looked at the driver and said "excuse me, could you please stop for us?" The driver and his female passenger kinda laughed and said "sure." After getting across the street, Sean looked back and waived them on while saying "you can go ahead now, thank you."

Sean got into my truck and took some of the Skittles candy I have stashed in the door compartment. I didn't realize he had done this until seeing him walk over to his sister and give her a few before putting the rest into his mouth.

Sean and I were looking at his work from school and I was commenting on how great his artwork was. His reply "you know I'm a regular Van Gogh dad"

New Bike

2010-10-26T12:43:00.001-07:00

The fall in Utah has been excellent this year, lingering on with weekend after weekend providing excellent biking weather. I had 4 weekends in a row of epic rides including the crest, mid mountain trail, Spiro and the canyons. Always lusting after a new bike, I had been eyeing the Rocky Mountain Altitude 50 for quite some time. I test rode the 2009 last year but ended up getting a Slayer since it was cheaper at the time. After seeing the 2010 model online and waiting for the price to drop for months, my chance finally came. Not only did the price drop but a free gift (bike light) was included. Due to a rainy weekend(the nice fall weather has officially ended), I had a chance to take the maiden voyage. Lucky for me, I have work in the Moab area this week allowing the chance to test ride my new steed post work. I chose to ride Sovereign because I know the area and like the style of riding. Weather wasnt great, cold and windy but at least the sun was out and it wasn't raining.

I will compare the Altitude to my previous bike, a Rocky Mountain Slayer 50, which I have enjoyed but felt was a little too heavy (especially for the PCP2P race). The Altitude has geometry which puts the rider in a more forward position than the Slayer, allowing easier climbing and less front end looseness. The Altitude climbing skills weren't really put to the test at Sovereign since no big climbs exist but the few short spurts felt easier. A few climbs even left me thinking, why did I get out of the saddle for that? I was concerned with the low bottom bracket hitting rocks but never managed to catch the frame on any rocks, though the end of my crank-arms took quite a beating. As mentioned, less weight was the primary driver for my new purchase and I gotta say the 3-4 pounds is very noticeable. There were a few times I went to pull the bike over an obstacle and almost went over the bars cause the bike followed me with so little effort. I immediately disliked the location of the rear shock, as switching from climbing to downhill mode is difficult to change on the fly. In addition, something feels quite different in steering between the two bikes, a few more rides may help me understand that. Perhaps the best thing about my new ride is the color. My last two bikes have been puke green while the Altitude sports a shiny white frame with nice blue accents. One ride on a bike isnt enough to give a full report but I'm pretty happy with my purchase at this point.

Been a While

2010-08-16T08:05:00.000-07:00

A busy summer has kept me from posting in quite some time. Most evenings are spent in the garden or bike riding. In addition, I haven't been good at taking pictures. We have had many good times this summer with the highlight being our trip to Puerto Rico. Beach time on San Juan with family was priceless. I wish we could do something like that every summer. Our extended trip to Vieques was a blast. Our family had so much fun exploring the island.

My last post noted the soon to be ripe raspberries which didn't pan out. Each time 3 or 4 berries would ripen, Sean would be out eating them. Not a problem since we never got enough to make jam anyway. I'm now realizing that some of the berries are ever-bearing and are now about to produce lots since I chopped the plants down in spring.

I hope to get pictures posted of the last month and our gardens current state soon.

Garden Update

2010-07-02T08:42:00.000-07:00

Seems this blog has been focused on kids and their antics lately even though we are in the midst of prime gardening season. We have lots of tomato plants along with the usual squash, beans, lettuce, peppers, spinach and carrots. We had broccoli again this year which produced quite well. I pulled the broccoli plants a week ago since its getting too hot to produce nice heads and the large plants were shading my squash.

Broccoli starters

Just before pulling it out

We had a nice friend who gave us 9 heirloom tomato plants as a housewarming gift. We should have lots of tomato soup to put away for the winter.

Sean and I have been unloading and spreading mulch around the garden and flower beds the past few weeks. I hope the weeds slow down as a result.

We have quite a few raspberries on our plants and hope to be making jam in the next few weeks.

Worn Out

2010-06-09T06:56:00.001-07:00

A few days after returning from camping in Moab for Memorial Day weekend; Mimi, Papa and Aunt Megan came to town for a visit. We had a great time while they were here with lots of sunshine and perfect temperatures. Thanks Mimi, Papa and Megan for coming to see us and for all your help around the house. Though we are still trying to get caught up on rest.

The Armstrong house has been enjoying the cooler weather vegetables with dinner lately. We have more lettuce than we can eat and are enjoying baby carrots obtained during thinning.

Sneaky

2010-06-01T11:35:00.000-07:00

Sean has a knack for ruining pictures. I can't ever recall doing such a thing when I was a little boy.

Here are the cute girls

Still Going Strong

2010-05-26T06:58:00.001-07:00

This past weekend the Armstrong family was lucky enough to have Granddad and Meemaw in town for a visit. We always look forward to spending time with my grandparents as they are a joy to have around. Each time I see them, I'm amazed at how outgoing these two are considering their age.

(Granddad knows how to look at the camera for a picture; everyone else needs some training)
Thanks again to Granddad and Meemaw for enduring standby status in the Tulsa airport to visit the Armstrong family.

Another TF gone by

2010-05-17T11:38:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I loaded up my bike and camping gear for the annual guys trip to Moab mountain biking and good times. This years' trip included good weather, plenty of deep fried goodness and a sampling of previously unridden trails. I was lucky to escape with a few close calls and only one fall off my bike with no blood drawn. Thanks to Sarah for making my hair fantastic, the shingle look in the back got lots of comments. I even had a 70 year old lady stop me in a gas station during a break on the drive down and comment on how much she liked my hair.

The Troll Doll look is coming back.

Judgements

2010-05-10T13:17:00.000-07:00

It seems a challenge to go through life and not judge others based on life's previous experiences. Ironically, my recent experience with a neighbors' rush to judgement had me falling into the same trap of judging others. It's quite obvious from the tone of the neighbors letter that judgement had been made before seeing how things worked out. The letter was amusing but also had me judging all people who fit my neighbors' profile. I felt that anyone who resembled my neighbor (older and a member of a certain "club" in utah) must have the same hate for my chickens. An experience yesterday humbled and enlightened me.

It was Sunday morning and I was out mowing the lawn with my helper Sean nearby. As I turned to mow another strip, I saw an older woman begin walking toward me. Seeing that she wanted to begin a conversation, I shut my mower down and walked to greet her. The lady (a "club" member) is a neighbor from down the street and was quite interested in our dog, Duke. Not long after chatting, Sarah and Gracie came out of the house to introduce themselves. The conversation soon turned to the woman's work at animal control and the animal shelter. Sarah mentioned a recent trip to the animal control headquarters to obtain a permit. This prompted the woman to ask if we went to obtain a permit for Duke. Sarah and I both looked timidly at each other before giving her the honest answer.

The trip to animal control was made to obtain a permit for our backyard chickens. To our surprise, the woman was extremely excited and asked if she could see our chickens. Sarah and I about fell over after being stunned by her reaction and realized that we had already passed judgement on the friendly woman. Of course we would show off our chickens and coop to anyone who is supportive of the idea. We had a great conversation about chicken coops and other neighbors in the area who kept chickens. In addition, the woman told us about her hobby of bee keeping and plans to begin a hive in her backyard. It's great to be reminded that just because people can be thought of as members of the same "group", they don't always have identical beliefs.

Goodbye Midvale

2010-05-07T08:02:00.001-07:00

The Armstrongs are officially one home owners again. We closed on our Midvale home and can now focus on our new house. While extremely happy with our new locale, we will always remember the fun times we had in our first home and the Midvale neighborhood.

Home when bought

Home when sold

Barbie Cruizin'

2010-05-06T07:35:00.001-07:00

Mia took the kids for a spin in her Barbie Jeep during a recent stay at the Williamsons.

Welcome to the Neighborhood

2010-04-27T11:51:00.001-07:00

Most of my readers probably follow Sarah's blog and have seen the news on the Armstrong's newest acquisition. We followed the recent trend in Suburbia and took on a chicken coop and egg laying hens. After months of tossing the idea around, a friend offered his old coop for free leaving us no more excuses. We got the coop moved, cleaned and into place the Sunday before last. After reading up on the subject, I went about making a chicken run and ensuring the coop would remain predator/rodent safe. I spent more time and money than I had imagined but created a nice space for our girls. On Thursday, we made a trip to Sandy to pickup four 16 week old hens. Our adventure was set to begin. We only have one problem now, our neighbors. They made comments at the initial sight of our coop and were nice enough to deliver a caring and heartfelt letter to our mailbox Friday morning. Its such a great read so here it goes:

Dear Matt and Sarah-
We are thrilled to have such a nice family move in next door to us and have enjoyed getting to know you and your darling children. We're writing to you because this is easier than trying to find us both home at the same time, and because we have been tossing and turning all night thinking about your chicken coop. We think the way you feel about your neighbors dog is about the way we feel about your chickens - can't do a thing about it but wish it would go away. We're only asking that you consider moving the coop into the center of your backyard, along the east fence and away from our property line. Our bedrooms are on the north and east sides of our home, just like in your home, so the noise level from the north neighbors has a big influence on how well we sleep sometime, and we don't think you can train chickens to not make noise. Your coop is well hidden from view for you but not for us. As we enter our backyard - which we will be using a lot more in the summer (for entertaining, playing and working in) - it will be impossible to ignore the sight, noise and smell of your coop. Our biggest concern is the rats that will invading your coop, and we would like them as far away from our yard as possible. We know it's impossible to keep them from finding their way into our yard and home, but maybe there will be fewer of them getting under the fence if their nests (made in your coop) are farther away from that fence. We had no idea your coop included an open fenced area for them. Are you aware that your apricot tree will be dropping fruit into your coop and onto your chickens? It is really quite a mess under that tree in the spring and early summer. Do chickens like apricots? Anyway, we don't want this request to cause any unkind feelings, because we have tried to be good neighbors, but hope you will consider our plea to move the coop as far east and north as possible.
Thanks
Gavin and Jill

How to respond? Based on the lack of tact this letter reeks of and the neighbors initial comments in person, its hard to find a proper response. We followed every letter of the law for chickens within city limits, ensured protection from rodents through proper coop design/food storage and will ensure a clean coop is kept to minimize smell. If this letter were written 4 months from now because we had rodents invading the neighborhood, chickens waking everyone around us and an unkempt, smelly coop I would understand. But everything in this letter is either false or makes assumptions of the worse case. At this point; my chickens and family sleep soundly knowing that the neighbors toss and turn all night assuming the Armstrong's are horrible, unclean people. I suppose it will only get better when the well rested Armstrong family enjoys fresh eggs in the morning while the tired neighbors consume their lives with worries based on assumptions of others.

Too young?

2010-04-23T15:53:00.001-07:00

I thought Sean was growing quickly but a beard already? Not only is he growing a beard but its so gray he could pass for Santa if he packed some pounds on in the belly area.

Easter Cutie

2010-04-14T09:14:00.000-07:00

Gracie sure is cute these days. Except when we tell her she cannot do something and she gives us attitude back. It's hard to discipline when you are trying to keep from laughing.

Lots of Love

2010-04-12T15:10:00.000-07:00

So much love to give even Duke gets a daily hug from the kids.

Wanna Kiss?

2010-04-05T14:21:00.000-07:00

Let me make sure I have lots of "lip stick" on these lips beforehand. Gracie got a 5 pack of chap-stick from the easter bunny and is probably on her 4th stick by now.

As for Sean, he got a superman paddle and ball game amongst other things. He seems quite entertained by his new toy.

Spring is here...........Finally

2010-03-29T11:00:00.001-07:00

After months of cold with little or no snow for skiing, the Armstrong family is happy to welcome the arrival of spring. I'm usually sad to see the skiing season end but I've had enough of this seasons splitting storm systems and over-predicted snow totals. Even the few "good" days of powder skiing I had this year were ruined by the powder hungry crowds. Crowds at Solitude, who knew.

To start this spring off right, we planted Broccoli starters and sowed lettuce/spinach seed on March 6. The seed is coming up now and should provide more lettuce than we can eat in three weeks. I hope we are eating broccoli within the next 4 weeks too.

I wrangled my farm helpers into posing for some pictures by our new garden.

Hey look at me, I can ruin your picture

Gracie with Broccoli behind her

Slowly growing

Puppy Love

2010-03-26T14:09:00.001-07:00

I'm not sure if Sean and Gracie are a blessing or a curse for Duke. Sarah and I hardly give him any attention now that we have the kids but at the same time they give him lots of love. Lucky for everyone, Duke puts up with the kids constantly jumping on him, pulling his ears and poking his eyes without biting them.

Trend Setter

2010-03-15T10:10:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure who she gets her fashion sense from but this look is probably gonna sweep across the country.

I talk ALOT

2010-03-12T07:46:00.001-08:00

Anyone that knows Sean, realizes his ability to talk endlessly which is great and quite entertaining for most people. But I think he may have some competition around the Armstrong house. Though she can only be understood about 75% of the time, Gracie is giving him a run for his money.

Talkative and Cute. Notice any resemblance?

2010 Kickoff

2010-01-25T13:32:00.000-08:00

My blogging activity has been lacking this new year thanks to our recent move and a change in policy at my office prohibiting the use of blogger over our network. The good news is that my work commute is now 5-10 minutes and productivity is up at work. The Armstrong family is getting closer to being settled in our new home with each day/night of work. There are a few boxes lingering and lots of pictures, etc. to hang but we are really enjoying our new digs.

I finally found the motivation to bike commute to work today and forgot how much better I feel after the ride. It took me approx. 25 minutes thanks to my break from riding during our move but riding it faster will give me something to work towards. I'm excited for the ride home which is almost all downhill and should be complete in 15 minutes.

Skiing in Salt Lake finally improved with our last week of storm after storm. I went up Sunday to fight the crowds and help track out Solitude in less than an hour. Thanks Outdoor retailers/Sundance/Vacationers for reminding me why not to ski on a weekend.

With all the activity at our new and old house lately, I haven't dusted off the camera lately. Soooooooooooooooooo................... a flash back to my pre-TF '09 business trip.

Paul Dunegan reluctantly poses with me for a picture at the Pleasant View Compressor Station

Random photos from late '09

2010-01-06T09:47:00.000-08:00

Packed Weekends

2009-12-30T15:29:00.000-08:00

Posting has been minimal lately with so many activities packed into every weekend, purchasing a new home and all the holiday events. Thanks to The Corums and Armstrongs for making trips to SLC recently. We enjoyed spending time with you but more importantly know that Sean and Gracie love having you here.

After narrowing down our home search area through drives in potential neighborhoods, we found an area that is affordable and will make our life richer. Our new home will offer more space inside and out, elementary school less than 2 blocks away and cut my office commute from 16 to 4 miles. We are excited by the changes though dreading the actual move.

Our trip to the Uinta mountains the weekend before Christmas to stay in a Yurt was a success. Though there was lots of crying on the hikes to and from, we enjoyed the experience and will definately do another yurt trip in the future.

Cold Gear review

2009-12-03T10:57:00.000-08:00

With snow yet to fall in Salt Lake, temperatures still indicate the presence of winter. This mornings low was predicted to be 12 degress, unfortunately it was only 16 when I woke up. The good news is that I broke my previous cold weather bike commuting record of 18 degrees with this mornings commute.

A drink of water was out of the question about half way in. Still frozen after thawing for few minutes once at the office.

In addition to testing my determination, this mornings commute allowed a test of my cold weather gear. Cold weather commuting is a tough balance of warmth without sweating like Tiger Woods in the midst of a mistress discovery. I am still waiting on a warmer pair of tights to arrive from my online shopping fiasco (wrong size, out of stock product). In the meantime, I must rely on light tights and a pair of xc ski pants over the top on days below 20. The combo worked quite well keeping me warm without sweat pouring down my legs. I also stepped up my upper base layer to a heavy weight xc synthetic ski shirt which was almost too much as I had to begin unzipping my jacket after 4 miles. I will surely be a sweaty pig on the ride home. My purchase of Pearl Izumi Amfib lobster gloves continues to pay off. I found the gloves over the summer at less than half original price and have never experienced cold fingers while wearing them(even this morning). They are almost too warm as they were sweaty upon my arrival at the office this morning.

I am now on the hunt for a solution to cold feet while riding in temps below 20. My current set-up is a nice wool/synthetic ski sock with Sugoi resistor booties over the top of my shoes. Though the Sugoi booties keep my feet pretty warm in temps above 20, my feet were cold 30 minues in and ice blocks by the time I reached my office. There are plenty of shoe covering options on the market but I don't like shelling out full price for such gear. I may try and fabricate a synthetic wool "sock" to fit over my shoe before putting the sugio booties over. For now, knowing that a warm shower and thawed feet get closer the harder I pedal keeps me going.

Dancing Queen

2009-12-02T07:46:00.000-08:00

Gracie shows off her moves for Danny, Duke and Daddy. It's obvious that she has my rythym and Sarah's singing ability.

Spoiled

2009-11-25T12:21:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Aunt Renae and Uncle Daniel for making a trip to Utah. The kids thoroughly enjoyed being spoiled for the weekend. Of course Sarah and I enjoyed having you in our home as well.

Legs

2009-11-17T07:28:00.000-08:00

Need I say more?

P.S. Thanks for the picture Jim P.

Spotted

2009-11-16T14:22:00.000-08:00

Chet and I thought crossing over to the dark side of spandex would be safe on the white rim trail. Apparently not.

Leaves and Talking dogs

2009-11-11T07:35:00.001-08:00

The weather in SLC has been great the past few weeks allowing lots of outside play. The kids and I raked leaves to play in last weekend.

We also got a chance to meet Marthie the talking dog at the library. Sean was pretty disappointed when he realized it was only a human dressed in a Marthie suit. He was convinced we were going to see a real talking dog. Gracie just ran around the room yelling "Marthie" but refused to get within 10 feet of the Marthie.

Trends come and go

2009-11-10T09:37:00.000-08:00

My trip to the desert of southern Utah revealed the latest fad of mid ride socializing.

Mini Beers

As you can see, I'm not buying into the trend.

Ricky Sighting

2009-10-30T07:28:00.000-07:00

For those trailer park boys fans out there.

I rounded the corner in my office the other day and came across this guy. It took me a moment to realize it wasn't Ricky. Though I do wonder if Derek has a secret Ricky shirt hook-up?

White Rim Trip Report

2009-10-29T09:15:00.001-07:00

This past weekend I set out with 10 others on a mountain biking/camping trip through the backcountry of Canyonlands National Park. Scott mentioned the trip last year after receiving a permit for October 09, leaving me in anticipation for a year. We drove to Moab Friday night for a quick start Saturday morning.

Jim inspecting the packing job.

After getting paperwork completed at the park office, it was time for the Schafer trail, a fat bikers dream(downhill = no pedaling).

See the road below me. Shannon descending the road (white helmet)

Some don't care to walk across this arch (me). Others show off while in such a precarious spot.

Jim mashing the pedals

Mike catching up (see the red spec on the road)

Night #1 sunset from camp

Jim taking pictures along the way. (see the tiny spec at the canyon rim). After seeing the number of pictures Jim was shooting, I decided to put my camera down and wait for a CD from him post trip.Though I did manage one more picture of Chet and Shannon at the alleged Colorado/Green River confluence. Look at Scott save his PBR from sure death if it were to fall over the 1000' cliff next to him.

We rode out Monday afternoon after three days of easy pedaling, great scenery and good memories. This trip ranks high on the list of good times this year.

Mommy gone

2009-10-20T07:35:00.000-07:00

With Mom tending to MawMaw for the weekend, I got my share of entertaining two wild and happy kids for a few days. I tried my best to tire them each day with hiking, fishing and bike riding. We had a great time together but were so happy when mommy came back on Monday. Many thanks to the other moms who helped me out by watching the kids last weekend.

Sean and Gracie being sweet just before bed time. Sean holding baby Deja

Sean and Mia more interested in "driving the boat" since the fish weren't biting. Thanks again to Bart for taking us out to Willard bay.

Big Mouth

Playground fun

Rare Moments

2009-10-13T07:31:00.000-07:00

I was lucky to have my camera handy at the right time yesterday.

Denver Rocks

2009-10-07T12:19:00.000-07:00

As previously noted, we recently enjoyed a family vacation to Denver and Colorado Springs following my business trip. I met up with some friends for mountain biking in Denver so they could put SLC trails to shame. I was extremely disappointed to discover Denver MTB trails are not cleared of all rocks (SLC trails are smooth and buff). Riding a 1995 Gary Fisher hardtail with the front fork locked out, I got to experience the toughness of Denver rocks. Unfortunately, my shoulder lost the battle against those rocks, leaving me with torn ligaments. I'm now three weeks since riding a bike and about to go stir crazy. Now that I have regained some use of my left arm, I hope to get back on my bike this week. In the meantime, more pictures of Sean and Gracie.

Getting along, for a short time anyway

Doing everything big brother does

We didn't even get pooped on.

The calm before the storm.

Sean getting a cow milking lesson

Happy Kids

2009-10-02T09:57:00.000-07:00

Sean and Gracie cruising the hood on Sean's 4-wheeler.

Weekend Update

2009-09-28T10:40:00.000-07:00

Its been a while since I uploaded pictures from our fun filled September weekends. Labor day weekend consisted of a brutal mountain bike race in Park City. At about mile 15, I wondered what the hell I was thinking when I signed up for such an event. Once I finished my portion at mile 30, I swore to never try such thing again. After a few hours of recovery, I started wondering how much faster I could be next year with some actual training.

The following weekend was Mom's Gone Wild, allowing me some daddy time with Sean and Gracie. We enjoyed our weekend keeping busy with friends and playing outside.

The next weekend was spent in Colorado Springs with Aunt Michele and Uncle Lowell. We played lots of garage hockey, went to the Denver botanical gardens, and hit the CO Springs zoo again.

Farmers Market Returns

2009-09-03T12:31:00.000-07:00

It's United Way season at my office again which means being bombarded with activities/fundraisers at every cubicle corner. A co-worker and I are once again taking it a step further this year, ensuring participation in our fundraiser by setting up the market at the building entrance. We held our 1st Farmers market of the year on Wednesday and doubled our sales from the 1st day last year. I forgot to get a shot of the set-up but did remember to snap a picture of my produce picked for the market. I wrangled Sean into sitting by the harvest since he is always my helper when working in the garden.

The Armstrong house hasn't slowed down and the coming weekends are chock full of activities. Here are a few pictures of the rats.

And a great picture of cute mommy.

This weekend I will be riding in a mountain bike race in Park City. I am competing as a team with a friend, I ride the first 35 miles, he rides the next 40. I'm just hoping to complete my portion so Steve gets his turn.

Cool Summer

2009-08-18T07:46:00.000-07:00

Bigger Garden = Bigger Basket

Even the bigger basket can't hold my entire days harvest. I have to take a load in the kitchen and return for more. Tomatillos anyone? I think we may try one tomatillo plant next year. How about my heirloom eggplant?

You can never have too many tomatoes. Just too many tomatoes and not enough time to get them prepped for freezing or canning. The shot below represents about one tenth of one tomato plant (I have four). I think we may have plenty in a few weeks.

The past two weekends have provided really cool weather in Salt Lake allowing the Armstrong kids lots of outside play time. Not quite cool enough for snow goggles but they keep the bugs out of your eyes.

Looks of concern!
Look of excitement!

Sweet Corn

2009-08-10T09:56:00.000-07:00

The Armstrong kids enjoying homegrown corn.
And 4 wheelin in the back yard.

Sean flirting with mormon girls at the park.

Tomatoes are here

2009-07-29T07:35:00.001-07:00

The Armstrong garden is finally producing red tomatoes. Not enough for salsa yet but we should have plenty in a few weeks. The peppers are coming in fast with the hot weather here in the city of Mo. We also enjoyed our first ear of corn last night, picked a little early but still delicious.

A picture of our first eggplant. I've never grown eggplant but picked up this heirloom variety, Rosa Bianca, at the local plant sale.

We spent a few fun hours at the zoo last Saturday.

Fatty

2009-07-24T07:21:00.000-07:00

I was cruising into the parking garage at my office today; stretching my legs by sitting on the back of my saddle and then clink. I damn near fell off my bike when the bolt holding my seatpost clamp sheared in half. How do these things happen? Too many pizza lunches at the office?

All I could do was laugh it off and pickup the seatpost pieces as onlookers wondered what the hell was going on.

Now if I can just ride with no seat to the bike shop and hope they have the bolt I need.

Squash surplus

2009-07-21T08:05:00.000-07:00

The tomatillos are ripening fast these days.

Squash is too! Picking at least 4 a day.

Sean and Gracie continue to get cuter with each day. After sleeping in last Saturday, Gracie came up stairs to her big brother needing some love.

In other news, Sean is working towards mountain biking. First it's the curb, next is log riding.

Weekend of Fun

2009-07-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

The second weekend in July is always full of activity to celebrate Sarah and Seans birthdays. This year was no exception with a great party for Sarah on Saturday night and a backyard water party for Sean on Sunday. Both parties were so much fun and managed to wear the Armstrong clan out come Sunday evening. I don't have any pictures of Sarah's birthday party but expect pictures from all those that took pictures with their high dollar cameras (Lori & Kristin). Here are a few from Sean's wild water party on Sunday.

This event was at the top of my fun list during the birthday weekend. What is going on in this picture?

That's our genius of a neighbor running around madly after cutting down a tree on his propery and letting it land on our pergola. After talking about cutting the tree down for a year, he picks the day we have an outdoor party planned and begins a few hours before it was slated to start. The tree landed on our pergola about 45 minutes before the party was to begin. I had to stay in the house and watch as I feared what might happen if I went outside and let my mouth run.

Who's yo daddy Slickrock

2009-07-08T10:11:00.000-07:00

After pestering Mitch for months, he finally sent me the video of Sean and I showing slickrock how it's done during our memorial day weekend campout. Thanks to Mitch for filming and his confidence in our ability to make the top.

Triple and a Record

2009-07-07T07:14:00.000-07:00

Mondays are always a drag, especially after a three day holiday weekend packed with non-stop fun. I was able to get myself out of bed yesterday so that I could commute in on my bike and enjoy the early sunrise. Imagine my mood when 8 miles into the ride I realized my rear tire was going flat. I got the tire changed quickly and managed to arrive at the office in time for an 8 am meeting.

The ride home was sweet with 15 mph winds from the NW, a killer tailwind. I was able to set a new speed record, 52 minutes for the ride home. After arriving home, I quickly changed gear and loaded up my mountain bike for a ride at Solitude. Thanks to Chet and Scott for letting me smoke them on the uphill, then showing me how to ride logs on the down. After completing the triple in 95 degree heat and a few vanilla rum root beers, I slept quite well.

Thanks Aunt Michele and Uncle Lowell for Gracie's new bike helmet. She hates wearing it (as with anything we put on her) but Sean sure enjoyed it.

Holiday Recap

2009-07-06T11:05:00.000-07:00

We had a busy holiday weekend packed with lots of playing in the hot sun. A few highlights below.

Grilled vegetables and turkey franks

The Sandy 4th of July parade provided endless entertainment. I didn't know "heavy hitters" could ride scooters so well.

My Saturday night D&D session was cancelled since most were involved in the parade.

I was really disappointed when I realized my stake didn't invite me to ride their float.

Dinner

2009-07-01T12:59:00.000-07:00

Dinners have been great lately, lots of veggies beginning to ripen.

I'm not sure which is better, me showing some chest or the look on Brandons face. Could it be the crappy beer he's drinking?